Christmas Day dining options

Thursday

Do you feel like your chestnuts are roasting over an open fire because you don't have meal plans yet for Christmas? Well relax, I'm here to help.

Do you feel like your chestnuts are roasting over an open fire because you don't have meal plans yet for Christmas? Well relax, I'm here to help.

You see, whether it's by choice or by chance, lots of folks won't be dining at home on Christmas Day - and local restaurants know this. Therefore, plenty of eateries will be open and serving throughout the whole 25th of December.

So whether you crave bagels or vegan treats, whether it's seafood, spaghetti or prime steaks you'll need, the following culinary yuletide elves will only be too happy to stuff your stockings.

Bagel, bagel, bagel, I made it out of dough. OK, not me, but Block's, and they make some of the best bagels in town.

Buckeye Donuts

Open 24 hours, including Christmas Day (closed the day after Christmas)

1998 N. High St., Campus

614-291-3923

buckeye-donuts.com

If you prefer your holey round baked goods to be sweet, check out this unconventional, "all-nighter" OSU institution.

Pattycake Bakery

10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

3009 N. High St., Clintonville

614-784-2253

pattycakebakery.com

If you prefer your baked goods to be sweet and vegan, then park your sleigh at this hip Clintonville shop.

Buca Di Beppo

11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

343 N. Front St., Arena District

614-621-3287

60 E. Wilson Bridge Rd., Worthington

614-848-8466

bucadibeppo.com

Does the notion of cooking and cleaning on Christmas Day make you grumble fuggedaboutit? Might you be in the mood for gargantuan portions of Italianate food served with sides of goofiness and irony? Yeah, well then this over-the-topper is the place for you.

The Clarmont

12-7 p.m.

684 S. High St., German Village

614-443-1125

clarmontrestaurant.com

An abbreviated menu will be offered at this vintage upscale Columbus classic. Some of my Clarmont favorites are its lamb, steaks and pan-fried fish. Oh yeah, and cocktail shrimp the size of yule logs.

McCormick & Schmick's

12-7 p.m.

3965 New Bond St., Easton

614-476-3663

mccormickandschmicks.com

Most seasonally festive food is as heavy as that uneaten fruitcake you keep regifting. This makes M&S's trio of Christmas seafood specials - jumbo shrimp, grilled salmon and one of the best crabcakes ever in Columbus - sound extra great.

Chi Thai

11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

5577 N. Hamilton Rd., New Albany

614-471-8988

chithairestaurant.com

This is one of my favorite Thai restaurants in town. And not only is Chi Thai's food rockin' and sockin' (try the pound-on-the-table spicy and delicious Bangkok Fish) but it's a casual white-tableclother where you can get a decent drink and even brown rice in place of white.

Quaker Steak & Lube

4:30 p.m. to close

8500 Lyra Dr., Polaris

614-430-9464

quakersteakandlube.com

Wings for Christmas?! Well why not? I mean aren't buffalo hot-sauce and celery sticks suitably tinted red and green? Besides, while everyone else is having the same old turkey dinner they ate on Thanksgiving, you can be fueling up at this gas-station-themed party spot with barrels of beer, spicy snacks and rowdy, cut-loose types. Sounds fun, huh?

Ruth ' s Chris Steakhouse

5 to 9 p.m.

7550 High Cross Blvd., Worthington

614-885-2910

ruthschris.com

If you have an urge for a red meat Christmas splurge, this memorably named upscale mini-chain can jingle your sleigh, silver and dinner bells with a treat of high-test beef.

Betty ' s/Tip Top/Dirty Frank ' s/Surly Girl Saloon

Even the Grinch would have a great time at one of the fun and funky members of Betty's Family of Restaurants. So how about we meet there, hold hands and sing that Whoville song?